The exercisers should expect the playfulness.
The baby goats will climb on them while they are dropping into yoga poses. Some might chew on their clothes or stand on them while they are executing the next yoga pose.
Yoga lovers and animal lovers can both get their fill of their hobbies at an upcoming event of Goat Yoga in April, hosted by the Johnson County 4-H Goat Club. The fundraising event will go to help build a shelter outside the goat and sheep barn at the fairgrounds.
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Goat club fundraising organizers have always had a flair for unique ideas to raise money, including auctioning off goat paintings at a past fundraiser.
And showing goats has become a popular 4-H activity in recent years, with goat showmanship easier on the youngest participants than other animals such as cattle, said Hannah Goeb, a leader for the goat club.
Getting a unique fundraiser and asking for community participation is far more likely to bring awareness to the goat club and can help the community get involved in what they are raising money for, said Elizabeth Acker, a leader for the goat club.
“We are always looking for creative fundraisers to do,” she said. “I would prefer it if the kids earn it themselves.”
Yoga instructors will be at the event to teach a traditional class while baby goats owned and handled by goat club members will roam Scott Hall at the Johnson County Fairgrounds while the class is going on.
After the class, goat club members will introduce their goats and will share a little about what their club does. There will also be plenty of time for petting and cuddling the baby goats.
“We thought the goat yoga would be a good way to teach the public about goats and interacting with them and what the kids are doing in the club,” Acker said.
Goat Yoga is a trend on the west and east coasts and was an idea goat club members thought would work in Johnson County, she said.
Baby goats are curious, and their antics are always entertaining. Participants in the event likely will find themselves happier and more calm after interacting with the animals, Acker said.
“They will leave with a smile on their face because of the animal, I think,” she said.
Organizers are looking for 100 participants for the event. All of the money earned will go toward building a shelter house that will allow 4-H’ers more room to clean and work with their goats during the fair.
Participation in showing goats has raised in the last few years, with parents realizing that goats are a cheaper and sometimes safer options for animal showmanship, Goeb said.
“They are a little bit more kid friendly,” she said.
About 325 goats were at the fair last year, which had the sheep and goat barn, built about four years ago, near capacity, Goeb said.
4-H’ers are quickly running out of room in the goat barn and the group has a goal of about $14,000 to raise to finish the shelter house before the fair, according to Acker.
Part of the draw of the experience will allow people who do not interact with farm animals the chance to do so, Goeb said.
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What: Goat Yoga
When: 10 a.m. April 7
Where: Scott Hall, Johnson County Fairgrounds
Cost: $30 for a 45-minute class, with time after to play with the goats.
Register by sending an email to Elizabeth@[email protected] or calling 317-627-5436.
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